Improvement in harvesting-machines



HABVESTER. ,602.

Patented June 18, 1861 UNITED STATES FRANKLIN CLARK, OF CHARLOTTE, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF PATENT OFFICE,

AND N. OOONES, OF LONDON, CANADA VEST,

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letlers'Patent No. 32,602, datedJnne 18,1861.

, ment.

A' is a driving-wheel constructed with a broad unbroken tread, and onthe interior of its ring formed with a serpentine groove, a.

B is a swinging forked arm journaled at its rear. end in a bracket, C,projecting horizontally from the frame D, and at its front end inalever, E, fulcrumed at F to the frame D.

G is a slotted bracket, which secures the forward end of the arm Bagainst lateral displacement, but admits of its elevationor depressionby means ofvthe lever E, to throw the cutter out of or into gear.

His astudshaft depending from the lowest part of the swinging arm B, andterminating in a friction roller, 71, which works in the groove a.

I is a connecting-rod communicating motion from the shaft H to thecutter J.

K is the drivers seat.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood from theforegoing description.

The rotation of the wheel A imparts reciprocating motion, to the cutterJ while the arm B is in the position indicated by black lines. To throwthe cutter out of gear, the operator, with his hand or foot, depressesthe forward end of the lever E, thereby elevating the arm Band raisingthe'roller it out of the groove a.

It is essential to my invention that the cutter and connecting-rod beset in the same vertical plane as the axis of the driving-wheel, andlikewise that the reciprocating motion be imparted to the connecting-roddirectly from the lowest part of the serpentine groove without theinterposition of a lever or any extended transverse connection. Theobject of this peculiar construction and arrangement of parts is toavoid elasticity and tremor in operating the cutter, to give the tonguemore effective control of the machine, and, generally, to render theconstruction more compactand economical. I do not therefore desire to beunderstood as claiming any construction of machine in which thisparticular construction or arrangement does not exist. Neither do Iclaim any construction of machine in which a spring is employed to movethe cutter in one directipn, one object with me being to render themotionof the cutter as unyielding as. possible. Neither do I claim anymachine. in which. motion is imparted to the cutter. by. a

of the rim of the wheel. found to be so liable to become clogged-as torender machines in which they are employed practically worthless,excepting in peculiar situations. In my machine the serpentine groove isnever in contact with the ground, and is found in practice to be exemptfrom any seri* ous liability to clogging. Nothing ofsufiicient weight toobstruct the motion of the machine can fall into'it, and any straws orother light matters which may pass within the wheel will fall out as itrotates.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Thecombination of the internal serpentine bracket G, and lever E,operating in connection with the driving-wheel A and the con necting-rodI of the cutter J, in the manner and for the purposes set forth. 7

FRANKLIN CLARK.

Witnesses:

()OTAVIUS KNIGHT, L.- W. BUROH serpentine channel extendingtotheexterior Such channels I have groove, a, swinging arm B, shaft H,slotted,

